Substance use stayed at high levels in 2023, while vaping increased and smoking fell

STAT July 30, 2024
Lev Facher

Rates of mental illness and substance use remained largely stable in 2023, according to federal data, underscoring the severity of the long-running U.S. mental health crisis and worst-in-the-world rates of illicit drug use.

And while overall rates of nicotine use also remained roughly even, the way people consumed it shifted slightly. Overall, slightly more Americans vaped nicotine, while slightly fewer smoked cigarettes.

The survey, released Tuesday by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, serves as a reminder of the severity of the nation’s ongoing substance use and mental health crises. And it highlights, too, that even for those seeking help for a substance use or mental health disorder, treatment is often unavailable.

“This data tells us that we...

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